CHURCY DAY

During each of the RE sessions I'm taking the fifth graders into the sacristy to show them the "things" we use at Mass.  Then, this afternoon there was a "Mass of Explanation". 

DINNER DANCE

The parish that we merged with has always had a big dinner/dance fundraiser, and I attendedme.  It is a university parish, hence all the "young folk"; I wish Craig had come.  I danced once with my secretary, but that wasn't enough!  I never get enough dancing.

RELAXATION

Craig and I drove through a snowstorm to a coffee shop, and sat and played "Banana" (according to Nora's rules) for a couple of hours.  Such a rare get-a-way, and all thanks to our noble presidents.

AMUSEMENT WHERE WE FIND IT

Craig and I both got a chuckle out of the suggestion on this box that America's #1 source of Whole Grain (even at Breakfast) is Reece's Puffs! 

VALENTINE PARTY

There was a Valentines Dance at school last night.  I was amused at the end when they turned on the lights and kids in their good clothes mingled on the gym floor.  (That's Sergei back there with a basketball in his hand.)  The gorgeous girl in the center is an exchange student from South Korea.  She is one of the prettiest girls I think I've ever seen in my life. 

CHEER LEADERS

I have the feeling that the last time I saw cheer leaders, when Aidan was in public high school, I was moderately shocked by the "briefness" of their uniforms.  Downright naked, they were (speaking in my churchlady voice).

Anyway, I was equally shocked by the determined modesty of the cheer team that came from a rival Christian school today.  This team did not attempt any of the extreme cheer gymnastic moves that many cheerleaders are doing now.  In fact, I don't think they did anything that nuns in full habit couldn't do....but, for all that they appeared to be having fun.

'TIS A POOR THING, BUT MINE OWN

Years ago, when things were happier at work, and I had the joy of working with two assistants who were also friends, we got a box in the mail.  And, in the box was the statue on the left.  Well, I am sure you can imagine, this "surprise gift" had us rolling on the floor, tears in our eyes, laughing.  It was some poor excuse for a religious statue!  But because she was so darned pathetic, she became a fixture around the place, and for probably fifteen years the office keys have been "on the nun".

Of course she got to move to the new location.  Joseph is waiting next to her for the custodian to glue his head back on.  I was so excited to see these new statues, not made of china, but of some sort of resin - but I can asure you that "resin" whatever it is, is even more apt to break!  Wouldn't you know?

BASKETBALL PARTY

There was a wonderful, absolutely wonderful party at the conclusion of the boys' basketball season.  Families were invited and the coaches were great with the boys (who as you can see enjoy one another).  Someone made a wonderful "highlights" video from the games, and photos.  Everything was perfect.

ABUNDANCE

One thing I like a lot a lot about the kids' school is that they allow them to eat and drink in class.  Maybe in a larger school this would get out of hand, but these are really good kids who police themselves quite well.  Having read what Dr. Purvis has to say about early trauma and brain chemistry, I am even more pleased that eating every couple of hours is a possibility for Anastasia.  And, I've found that some of my children just are not hungry so soon after waking up that they can eat a decent breakfast at home.

Here is the array of items Mrs. Knagg has out for the kids to purchase - at cost - during breaks.  She might try apples, as they last longer.  She did try bananas, but the kids didn't seem to choose them over the possibly-less-healthy alternatives. 

SUNDAYS

I do not quite know why it is so hard to get up on Sunday....  It is comparitively so much later than the 3:30 time I have to get up on the weekdays....  But, on the weekdays I don't have to leave the house right away.  I don't have to get dressed in nice, professional clothes, while the rest of the family sleeps.

The one solace is coffee, so the well-stocked carousel of k-cups for my Keurig is a welcome sight.

TOURNAMENT

It is basketball tournament time.  Zhen's team is not all that good, to be frank.  Zhen is solid - "He doesn't hurt them" as Craig puts it.  However, they are such a dear, sweet group of boys - on their own they took to beginning each game in this pose.  Makes the Sign of the Cross for the opening prayer a bit of a challenge, but it sure does illustrate their unity.  You can just see them, the rare times they are ahead, woking hard to make sure all the players get a chance to make a basket.  They are so good and supportive to one another.  I can't think of anything more like a "win" than that!

KOREAN FOOD

In honor of Lunar New Year, and in order to celebrate with our pen pals, we had a Korean feast in my classroom.  The look on the face of my Korean student was worth all the trouble.  I can't believe that her host family hasn't taken her out to a Korean restaurant!

MRS. ALLEN'S SCHOOL

I had some books to donate to Mrs. Allen's school, so I drove them over there.  On the way down the stairs I stopped to take this photo.  Somehow it would feed my soul to be able to walk up these warm, creeky oak stairs every morning with this beautiful window lighting the way. 

GOOD TRY

We were supposed to take the car in to get it's bumper repaired, as the parts arrived, but it wasn't going to happen before the city came by and plowed the street.  I watched from the third floor as Ilya and Zhenya helped Craig get back into the drivewayafter this false start.    I was surprised that the city did plow the streets and he was able to take it in later in the afternoon.  Often our street is left out of the plowing....  Good thing this was not one of those times!

EMERGENCY!!!!

I'm just peeved that this does not capture the reality, but I thought if I raised the camera above my head to snap a photo, and someone saw me, it might not go well with me.  There were probably ten carts ahead of me and I was in the middle of the line before I thought to take a photo.  Plus, consider, this was only one of about ten lines; there was one down the length of every aisle.  

How STUPID - how long did people think we'd be snowed in?  I just needed a cabbage to go with the  sausage, or I would have abandoned ship.